Car insurance in Washington state costs between $41 and $203 per month on average, depending on the level of coverage you carry. Drivers who choose the state-required minimum liability coverage pay around $41 per month, while those with full coverage pay approximately $181 per month.
Washington is one of the more affordable states for car insurance, ranking around 20th out of 50 states, which means most drivers pay below the national average. That said, rates in the Seattle metro area can be significantly higher than in eastern Washington, and premiums are rising statewide as repair costs and vehicle values continue to increase.
| Coverage Type | Average Monthly Range | Average Annual Range |
|---|---|---|
| State Minimum (Liability Only) | $41 - $57/month | $490 - $684/year |
| Full Coverage (Standard) | $109 - $203/month | $1,308 - $2,433/year |
| Full Coverage (Teen Driver) | $350 - $500+/month | $4,200 - $5,000+/year |
Source: insure.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
Washington is nicknamed the Evergreen State thanks to its abundant and lush green forests. But we’re also calling it that because your wallet will also be evergreen thanks to our guide to saving on Washington car insurance.
We’re not kidding. You might not have a choice when it comes to car insurance, but you do have a say in how much you save. Keep reading for everything you need to know about getting car insurance in Washington, including how to save on car insurance without skimping on coverage.
Let’s get started.
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| Coverage | Minimum Required |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily Injury Liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property Damage Liability (per accident) | $10,000 |
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
Washington is an at-fault state. The driver responsible for causing an accident must pay for the other party’s injuries and property damage. Washington also follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning if you share partial fault in an accident, your compensation may be reduced proportionally.
Washington does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, but state law requires every auto insurer to offer a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage with each policy. If you do not want PIP coverage, you must reject it in writing. Because of this, many Washington drivers carry some level of PIP without realizing it.
PIP covers medical costs for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. If you do not have health insurance or want additional financial protection, PIP is worth keeping.
| Company | Full Coverage (Monthly Range) |
|---|---|
| USAA | $138 - $165/month |
| PEMCO | $101 - $165/month |
| GEICO | $96 - $166/month |
| American Family | $146 - $188/month |
| State Farm | $115 - $175/month |
| Progressive | $105 - $180/month |
| Farmers | Varies by profile |
Source: insure.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
| Driver Profile / Factor | Impact on Rate |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Lowest available rates; qualifies for good driver discounts |
| One speeding ticket | Rate increase of 20-30% on average |
| At-fault accident | Full coverage rates increase by $50-$100+/month |
| DUI conviction | Rates increase 50% or more; SR-22 filing required |
| Teen driver (age 16-19) | 3-5x more than a standard adult driver |
| Senior driver (age 50-65) | Typically, lowest rates of any age group |
| Poor credit score | Can add $500-$1,000+ per year depending on insurer |
| Urban ZIP (Seattle/Federal Way) | 20-40% higher than rural eastern Washington |
Source: insure.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
| City | Approximate Full Coverage Annual Range |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $1,500 – $2,200/year |
| Federal Way | $1,800 – $2,600/year (highest in state) |
| Tacoma | $1,400 – $2,000/year |
| Spokane | $1,100 – $1,600/year |
| Bellevue | $1,400 – $2,000/year |
| Rural / Eastern WA | $900 – $1,300/year |
Source: insure.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
It never hurts to explore your options for car insurance, and it also doesn’t hurt to quickly run through the basics again. This way, you’ll beef up your understanding of car insurance and help you make an informed choice.
Here’s a brief review of the main options for car insurance coverage in Washington:
These are the main coverage types that you would choose from to build out your car insurance policy. You can pick and choose what you want, and leave what you don’t, as long as you’re satisfying the minimum requirements in Washington (bodily injury and property damage).
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Now that we’ve gone through required and optional coverage, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the car: cost. We know that most people would load up on car insurance coverage if cost was no factor, but unfortunately it is.
Car insurance certainly isn’t cheap, but it’s more affordable than most people realize, especially when you use our money-saving tips (coming up next).
We’ve crunched the numbers for car insurance in Washington so you can get a better idea of what you can expect to pay:
Where you live also factors into your car insurance costs. Here are some average rates by cities in Washington:
There are many factors that determine your car insurance costs, from age and gender to car make and model, driver history, insurance claim history, zip code, and more. Each insurance provider uses their own formula for determining rates, which is why you could see three very different quotes from three different providers.
But you don’t have to guess what you will pay. Just click here for access to free quotes, so you can better budget for car insurance.
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No one wants to overpay on car insurance. In fact, it’s painful forking over any money for car insurance at all. But while the fact that you need car insurance isn’t going away, we can help you find savings on your rates so that it’s a little more manageable on the budget.
Here are some of our best tips for finding cheap auto insurance in Washington:
Saving money on car insurance is more than possible, no matter where you live. Now, all that’s left to do is find Washington auto insurance quotes that fit the bill (we’ve got you covered).
But first, we know that life is expensive. Especially life as a new parent. If that’s you, go ahead and grab our financial guide for new parents to help you navigate this exciting, but costly, time of life.
But the list doesn’t end there. For those who want a little more protection, you can add riders or endorsements to your policy. These are optional add ons and serve to boost your coverage.
The riders that are available to you depend on the insurer, but common examples include:
Again, these are completely optional and should only be added if they give you peace of mind and fit into your budget. Options vary by insurance provider, so you may have even more to choose from depending on who you’re with.
Ready to save? It’s time to start gathering quotes, but first you want to have the following info handy to speed up the quoting process:
Make sure to gather at least three quotes. If you’re short on time, we’ve made it easy for you: just click here for access to free quotes fast, and you’ll be on the road to great car insurance in Washington.
When it matters, we’ve got you covered.
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Washington is an at-fault state. The driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying the other party’s costs through their liability insurance. Washington also follows a comparative negligence rule, if you share some fault in an accident, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
USAA offers the lowest average rates overall but is limited to military members, veterans, and their families. For most Washington drivers, PEMCO and GEICO consistently offer some of the most competitive rates. PEMCO is a Pacific Northwest regional insurer and frequently comes out cheapest for full coverage, drivers with violations, and teen drivers.
Washington was flagged as one of the top states for rate increases in 2025, with an estimated increase of 17.2% according to Value Penguin’s State of Auto Insurance report. Rate increases are being driven by higher vehicle repair costs, increased claim severity, and rising labor costs. Washington also has a high rate of vehicle theft, which pushes comprehensive coverage premiums upward.
PIP is not legally required in Washington, but insurers are required by law to offer a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage with every auto policy. If you don’t want it, you must decline it in writing. PIP covers medical costs for you and your passengers after an accident regardless of fault, so it is worth considering, especially if you have limited health insurance.
Driving without insurance in Washington results in a $500 fine for a first offense, plus potential license and registration suspension. If you are in an accident without insurance, you are personally liable for all damages and may face additional civil liability from injured parties.
Explore state-by-state car insurance trends to understand where drivers pay less on average.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
